The Gaylord hotel at the National Harbor in Fort Washington, MD has gone all out for the holiday season!

What Is ICE?

As part of the festivities, 40 Chinese artisans were brought in to hand carve thousands of blocks of ice, turning a 15,000 square foot tent into a winter wonderland!

(View Photos from ICE! here)

It’s Cold in There!

The tent is kept at a constant 9 degrees, and heavy winter coats are handed out to visitors in order to keep warm while visiting the indoor ice palace.

How Much is Admission?

Monday-Thursday before 4 p.m., adults $19.99, after 4 p.m. and Friday-Sunday all day, adults $24.50. Seniors $18; kids ages 4-12 $13; kids younger than 4 free.  The sculptures will be on display until January 10th, so don’t miss out!

Don’t forget that through Jan. 3, the Gaylord atrium has a 60-foot glass Christmas tree is lighted every night at 6. (Friday’s lighting will also include fireworks in the harbor!.)

Ice skating is also offered through Jan. 10 for $8 at a rink next to the ice tent.

~Jonathan Benya- Realtor
Century 21 New Millennium
9405-A Chesapeake St
La Plata, MD 20646
301-609-9000 – office
301-653-8116 – cell

Charles County Real Estate Blog
SOMD Home Search
Southern Maryland Custom Homes & Land

I get multiple calls each and every day regarding the program, and unfortunately not everybody found out about the program in time. I get at least one call per day from somebody who has just purchased a foreclosure in PG County and didn’t find out about the program until after settlement. Inevitably, the conversation goes something like this:

New Home Owner:    I didn’t find out about the program until after I closed on the house, can I still take advantage of the program?

Me:    That’s not a question I can answer.  All I can say is that I am telling all of my PG County clients about the program.  My best suggestion would be to call your Realtor directly and ask them.

Unfortunately, I don’t know of any way to take advantage of the program if you’ve already purchased, but I know plenty of people who would like to!  This situation (unfortunately) teaches a very important lesson when it comes to real estate.  Not all agents are equal, and choosing the wrong agent is costing people up to $20,000 in PG County!!!

~Jonathan Benya- Realtor
Century 21 New Millennium
9405-A Chesapeake St
La Plata, MD 20646
301-609-9000 – office
301-653-8116 – cell

Charles County Real Estate Blog
SOMD Home Search
Southern Maryland Custom Homes & Land

The goal of the program is to reduce the number of vacant homes in neighborhoods troubled by foreclosures. Through a government funded program (Thanks to the large economic stimulus package), PG County has been allocated $10,883,234 for a program called the “Down Payment Closing Cost Assistance Program” (DPCCA).

If you’re looking to buy a foreclosure in PG County, you may qualify!  For a detailed list of qualification requirements, please click here:  Down Payment Assistance for First Time Home Buyers in PG County. This is going to allow you to purchase your first home with between $1,000-2,000 down, and no closing costs or additional down payment required!  That means some people are actually going to be getting their first home for almost nothing down, AND they can qualify for the $8,000 first time home buyer credit as well!

Keep in mind that this program is not designed to get people loans with serious credit issues.  Your credit and debt-to-income (DTI) ratio’s need to allow you to qualify for a traditional mortgage.  This program has been designed for people with good credit, but limited savings.

Will You Need to Pay Back the DPCCA?

You may be required to pay back some or all of the DPCCA Money you receive, depending on how long you live in the home.  The money is treated like an interest free loan, that does not need to be paid back until you sell your home.  Here’s the rundown on how much you may owe at settlement:

If you live in the home for: % of amount due is:

0-3 years                                                                        100%

3-6 years                                                                         50%

6-9 years                                                                         30%

10+ years                                                                         0%

The longer you live in the house, the more money you save!  When you figure that this program can save you anywhere between $6,000-$20,000, it makes one heck of an argument for buying a foreclosed home!

Have Questions, or Want to Know More?

Please feel free to give me a call on my direct line at (301)-653-8116 and I’ll be more than happy to assist you with taking advantage of this great program!

~Jonathan Benya- Realtor
Century 21 New Millennium
9405-A Chesapeake St
La Plata, MD 20646
301-609-9000 – office
301-653-8116 – cell

Charles County Real Estate Blog
SOMD Home Search
Southern Maryland Custom Homes & Land

The Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) and the Down Payment Closing Cost Assistance Program (DPCCA) have released their guidelines and trained a select group of lenders to be able to provide this program to potential homeowners!

How Does It Work?

Step 1:  Find out if you qualify!  Here’s the eligibility requirements:

1. Must be 18 years or older
2. Must be a first time home buyer, or must not have owned anywhere for the last 3 years
3. Home being purchased MUST be primary residence
4. Annual household income must not exceed program limits (less than $86,600 for 1 person, or $99,000 for two people, if you have children, the limit increases.  An income calculator for determining eligibility can be found at http://webapps1.hud.gov/hfc/calculator )
5. Must qualify for a loan from a participating lender (There are currently 37 approved lenders, give me a call for a complete list)
6. Must contribute a minimum amount of cash towards purchase (Between $1,000-$2,000)
7. Must have ratified contract of sale on a vacant foreclosed property (Need help finding that home?  That’s where a spiffy Realtor like myself comes into play!)
8. Buyer must also attend an 8 hour minimum housing counseling class provided by HUD and receive a certificate of completion. (Class is free, and there’s already a waiting list, so hop to it!)

What Does DPCCA Do?

DPCCA will provide up to $20,000 in closing cost assistance on an interest free loan, with an interest rate of 0%, that is payable only when you go to move!  The longer you live in the property, the less you are  required to repay!  For example, if you live in the home for 3 years, you’re required to repay 100%.  If you live in the house for 4-6 years, the balance due is 50%.  For 6-9 years, the balance is 30%, and if you live in the home 10+ years, you’re not required to repay the DPCCA at all!

Essentially, this program is designed to allow low-income families to purchase foreclosed properties with minimal downpayment.  The will help reduce the foreclosure blight that has troubled PG County, and reduce the number of vacant homes sitting in the area.  This program can be used in combination with the $8,000 first time homebuyer tax credit, which means that it’s possible to buy a vacant foreclosure for as little as $1,000 down, all closing paid, with 3.5% downpayment paid by DPCCA, AND $8,000 in tax credit provided by the federal government!  The incentives to buy a foreclosure in PG County just keep growing!

~Jonathan Benya- Realtor
Century 21 New Millennium
9405-A Chesapeake St
La Plata, MD 20646
301-609-9000 – office
301-653-8116 – cell

Charles County Real Estate Blog
SOMD Home Search
Southern Maryland Custom Homes & Land

Shaun Donovan, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, said that the Federal Housing Administration is going to permit its lenders to allow homeowners to use the $8,000 tax credit as a down payment, provided you are using personal funds for the first 3.5% of the downpayment.

Donovan’s statement came in an address to several thousand Realtors® gathered at The Real Estate Summit: Advancing the U.S. Economy, a special daylong session at the Realtors® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo in Washington D.C.

If you’ve been looking at buying your first home, but the down-payment requirements have kept you from doing so, then this might be your chance to take advantage of a fantastic change in FHA policy.  Feel free to give me a call to find out more information or ask questions about how to take advantage of this program!

~Jonathan Benya- Realtor
Century 21 New Millennium
9405-A Chesapeake St
La Plata, MD 20646
301-609-9000 – office
301-653-8116 – cell

Charles County Real Estate Blog
SOMD Home Search
Southern Maryland Custom Homes & Land

The two biggest players in the scheme, Joy Jenise Jackson and Kurt Fordham have yet to be convicted, although 4 people have now pleaded guilty as the court builds their case. Katisha’s plea may force her to testify in court against her brother and sister-in-law.

It still disgusts me that people were able to rob homeowners like this, right in our back yard. Their actions have forced people into foreclosure, cost them their life savings, ruined their credit scores, and all because these con-artists found a way to get rich quick at the expense of honest folks like you and me. Good riddance to bad rubbish!

~Jonathan Benya- Realtor
Century 21 New Millennium
9405-A Chesapeake St
La Plata, MD 20646
301-609-9000
301-653-8116
Charles County Real Estate Blog

Jeez, even the dog doesn't want to be in this house!

There’s been a huge increase in Southern Maryland Short Sales over the last year thanks to the ongoing housing crisis. More often than not, they end up as foreclosures, many times because the path to negotiating is at best, murky.

When working with a lender to get a short sale agreement, there are several things that they are going to ask for, including tax returns, financial statements, investment records, etc. They’re also going to ask for a hardship letter.

So what is a “Hardship Letter”, exactly?

It’s essentially a personal letter to the bank explaining why you can’t possibly afford to pay the mortgage anymore. The thing to remember about the hardship letter is this: The sadder, the better!

This is really where you want to work closely with your Realtor to brainstorm on all the reasons why you can’t pay the mortgage. Sick mother? Kids with serious medical bills? Devastating car accident? Job lost due to faltering economy? This is your time to say so!!

Whatever you do, don’t lie about it, but make sure you are maximizing the hardship you are experiencing. The banks are willing to work with people, but excuses such as admitting you falsified loan docs to get the house aren’t exactly going to make the bank jump for joy.

It DOES make a difference!

The banks can only work with the information they are given, and the more hardship they can establish, the better off your chances of getting the short sale approved are.

Questions about how to survive a short sale or get your hardship letter written? Send me an email to jonbenya@mac.com and I’ll be more than happy to help!

~Jonathan Benya- Realtor

Century 21 New Millennium

301-653-8116

What’s really surprising is that many people aren’t looking for what really matters when it comes to hiring an agent.  People look at the bottom line.  Money.  Cash.  How much are you going to put in my pocket?  Quite often, the agent with the highest bottom line wins!

This method of thinking is the WORST WAY TO PICK A REALTOR!!!

Here’s why:

1) An agent’s job is to market your home, not set the price.  Their CMA is only a recommendation of price, and you have the right to have your agent list your home at whatever price you see fit.

2) If you interview three agents, and one places a higher value on your home than the others, you need to wonder why.  Are the other two agents undervaluing your home?  Are they using the same comps?  Or is the agent with the higher estimate OVER-valuing your home in order to get your business?

3) You need to give your home the best possible chance to sell.  This doesn’t mean choosing the Realtor with the highest or lowest estimate.  It means choosing the Realtor with the best marketing plan.  You can always negotiate fees, listing prices, etc.; but you can’t make a mediocre marketer great.

When it comes to that CMA, take the advice you get from all the Realtors you interview and use that to set the price. DO NOT use it to choose the Realtor you hire.

A higher price evaluation is no measure of competency or ability as an agent.  I’ll do a post tomorrow on the qualities to look for in a great listing agent, and keep your eye out for a post later this week on the biggest traps to avoid when choosing an agent!

~Jonathan Benya- Realtor
Century 21 New Millennium
9405-A Chesapeake St
La Plata, MD 20646
301-609-9000
301-653-8116
Southern Maryland Real Estate Blog

It’s pathetic to see yet ANOTHER real estate scam being run in Maryland, but it underscores how important it is to do your homework when buying a home.

1. Take the time to learn a little more about your builder, and not just from the builder themselves.  Get in touch with people who have used them in the past, research consumer complaints, and find out what their reputation is like.  websites like consumerreports.com and ripoffreport.com are great resources.  Also, try asking on local message boards and forums to see if anyone has an opinion on the builder.
2. Make sure they’re actually licensed.  Every builder has to have a builders license filed with the state of Maryland.  An ounce of prevention goes a long way!
3. Consult a Realtor.  A Buyers agent is paid to work for YOU, and their experience in dealing with real estate jargon and contracts can prevent you from being stuck in a shoddy situation like this.
4. If it sounds to good to be true…… It probably is.  When people are offered a fantastic “deal” like this, the inclination is to jump on it!  Apparently there was a reason in this case for the great deal…. It wasn’t a deal at all!  Don’t give in to high pressure sales tactics if you aren’t comfortable and satisfied with all of the terms and conditions.  Risking this kind of money on a transaction you don’t feel good about can lead to years of heartache.

The volume of foreclosures in P.G. County is still roiling the local real estate market.  Inventory (Active Listings) continues to rise (over 8,000 homes available, there were less than 1,000 listings at the peak of the market), and home sales continue to slope downwards.

It’s interesting to note that there was a spike in average sales price, but this is likely due to larger homes returning to a realm of affordability, and not a general market improvement.  The average volume of sold properties continues to suffer, indicating further market challenges.

It’s impossible to say when the market will turn around for P.G. County, but it is without a doubt still a long road ahead.

~Jonathan Benya- Realtor
Century 21 New Millennium
9405-A Chesapeake St
La Plata, MD 20646
301-609-9000
301-653-8116
Southern Maryland Real Estate Blog